PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Maskerov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don hoocks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Magomed Maskerov could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Don hoocks's chin.

Maskerov
vs
hoocks

194 cm
18
285 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
258 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Magomed Maskerov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Don hoocks!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Maskerov does no damage.
Maskerov swings and misses with a hook to the body.

hoocks shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Maskerov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Maskerov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but hoocks is controlling him well.
hoocks takes a little break here. Maskerov wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maskerov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but hoocks is controlling him well.
hoocks controlling from side mount.
hoocks working the ground and pound but Maskerov is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hoocks takes a little break here. Maskerov wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Maskerov is trying to get back to his feet.

hoocks stands up and we're back to a striking position.

hoocks shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
hoocks prevents Maskerov from standing back up.
hoocks is controlling the pace.

hoocks is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
hoocks looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
hoocks wants to pass to mount but Maskerov is defending the position.
hoocks is looking to take a break and control but Maskerov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maskerov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for hoocks on the ground.
Maskerov wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Maskerov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
hoocks ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maskerov misses with a two punch combination.
Maskerov misses with a body shot.
Maskerov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Maskerov tries to close the distance and clinch but hoocks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maskerov misses the shot to the body.
Maskerov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
hoocks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maskerov tries to close the distance and clinch up but hoocks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maskerov lands with a right hand.
Maskerov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maskerov misses with a jab, cross combination.
hoocks takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

hoocks shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Maskerov napping and manages to drive through into side control!

hoocks stands up and beckons Maskerov to his feet.
Magomed Maskerov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

hoocks gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Maskerov goes for a takedown attempt but hoocks pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

hoocks shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Maskerov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Maskerov wants to stand up but hoocks is controlling him.
hoocks wants to control from the top but Maskerov keeps moving.
Maskerov wants to get back to his feet but hoocks is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don hoocks dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice shot by Maskerov.
Maskerov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but hoocks moves away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Maskerov.
Maskerov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but hoocks moves away.
Maskerov clinches but hoocks breaks the clinch

and hoocks counters with a nice double leg into guard.
hoocks showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
hoocks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

hoocks gets to his feet - Maskerov follows without any prompting.
Maskerov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and hoocks counters by clinching up.

hoocks wants the takedown. Maskerov is fighting it off but hoocks persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Maskerov's guard against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maskerov is looking to stand up but hoocks isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for hoocks. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
hoocks trying to control but Maskerov is working from the bottom.
Maskerov wants to stand up but hoocks is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

hoocks is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Maskerov wants to stand but hoocks is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maskerov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Maskerov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Maskerov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
hoocks takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maskerov tries to clinch

and hoocks counters with a takedown into side control.
Maskerov is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

hoocks tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no hoocks has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
hoocks tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Maskerov is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maskerov is not content to let hoocks control the position.
Maskerov is trying to get back to his feet.
Maskerov trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A decent looking cross lands there for Maskerov.
Maskerov connects with a single shot there.
Maskerov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Maskerov stuns hoocks with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Maskerov scores with a decent looking hook.
A punch lands to the side of hoocks 's head but he takes it in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don hoocks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Maskerov misses with a telegraphed body shot

and hoocks decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maskerov's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

hoocks stands and steps away. Maskerov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

hoocks rushes Maskerov and presses him up against the cage.
Maskerov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

hoocks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maskerov looks to land a combination but hoocks avoids it well.
Maskerov tries to clinch up

and hoocks decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maskerov's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maskerov keeping moving, preventing hoocks from controlling successfully.
Maskerov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maskerov keeping moving, preventing hoocks from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maskerov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst hoocks is controlling him.
hoocks trying to control but Maskerov is working from the bottom.
Maskerov is looking to stand up but hoocks isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
hoocks shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Maskerov as he jumps to the side.
hoocks circles away from the clinch attempt

and hoocks decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maskerov's guard.
Maskerov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst hoocks is controlling him.
hoocks slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Don hoocks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maskerov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and hoocks manages to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

hoocks is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Maskerov tries to kick hoocks off in order to stand up. hoocks Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
You can see the frustration on Maskerov's face as hoocks controls the position.
Maskerov is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
hoocks tries to score with some ground and pound. Maskerov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Maskerov is trying to get back to his feet.
hoocks trying to control the action but Maskerov is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maskerov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Maskerov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. hoocks looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

hoocks closes the distance and clinches.
hoocks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Maskerov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Maskerov could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Maskerov has had enough of the clinch but hoocks keeps him there for the moment.
hoocks is working for takedown but Maskerov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Magomed Maskerov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Don hoocks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Magomed Maskerov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don hoocks.
Maskerov wants to break free but hoocks has control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don hoocks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got hoocks winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don hoocks!